ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The association of TN expression, tumour grading and expression of commonly used histopathologic prognostic factors (p53 and estrogen receptor) was examined in 62 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Following histological grading immunohistochemical reactions were undertaken on routine histopathologic samples and the results semiquantitatively evaluated. RESULTS: Strong TN expression was found in close proximity of the neoplastic epithelial cells in each case, but not in other areas of the stroma. In 10 (16%) cases TN expression was detected to the neoplastic epithelial cells as well. There was no statistically significant difference in the extent of stromal TN immunoreaction between tumours of different grades. A significant difference was found in p53 and estrogen receptor immunoreactions by tumour grade (p = 0.05). TN immunoreaction in the stroma did not correlate with the nuclear expression of p53, Ki-67 and estrogen receptor in the tumour cells. CONCLUSIONS: TN immunoreactivity does not seem to correlate with currently used prognostic factors. The increased expression of stromal TN in invasive breast ductal carcinomas is an other indicator of possible role played by the extracelular matrix components in cancer development.
